Chapter 15 Section 2: Westward Expansion and the Native Americans

Objectives Compare the ways Native Americans and white settlers viewed and used the land. Describe the conflicts between white settlers and Indians. Evaluate the impact of the Indian Wars.

Terms and People reservation – specific area set aside by the federal government for the Indians’ use Sand Creek Massacre – 1864 incident in which Colorado militia killed a camp of unarmed Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians Sitting Bull – Sioux chief respected as a fighter and spiritual leader Battle of the Little Big Horn – 1876 battle in which the Sioux defeated U.S. troops led by Colonel George Custer

Terms and People (continued) Chief Joseph – leader of the Nez Percés who surrendered after trying to lead a group of Indian refugees to Canada Wounded Knee – 1890 confrontation between U.S. cavalry and the Sioux that marked the end of Indian resistance in the Ghost Dance War assimilate – to adopt the culture and civilization of the dominant group in a society Dawes General Allotment Act – 1887 law that divided reservation land into private family plots 4

How did the pressures of westward expansion impact Native Americans? As American settlers continued to push west, they increasingly came into conflict with Native Americans. Such conflict often led to violence, with tragic results.

After the Civil War, about 250,000 Indians lived west of the Mississippi. Native Americans came from many diverse cultures. Had different belief systems Spoke different languages Lived in different types of houses Ate different foods

Conflict between Native Americans and white settlers… Native Americans saw themselves as part of nature and viewed nature as sacred. Many white Americans viewed the land as a resource to produce wealth. 7

Indian Reservation: What do you see here?

In the 1800s, the government carried out a policy of moving Indians out of the way of white settlers. Eventually, Indians were forced into reservations, no longer free to roam the Plains. Indians in the East were moved west, into the Indian Territory of the Plains.

Other threats to Native Americans… Settlers introduced diseases to which Indians had no immunity. Disease Settlers slaughtered buffalo herds. Loss of the buffalo 10

Some Native Americans fought to defend their lands. The Sand Creek Massacre: An unarmed camp of Indians under the U.S. Army protection killed by Colorado militia Attacks and retaliation led to distrust—and to tragedy. Promises and peace treaties were often broken. 11

The U.S. government moved to crush Indian resistance. The Red River War led to the defeat of the Southern Plains Indians. The Sioux were victorious at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Chief Joseph and the Nez Percés surrendered after attempting to retreat to Canada. 12

Indians kept religious beliefs using the Ghost Dance. The ritual preached that white settlers would be banished & the buffalo would return Fearful of an uprising, U.S. government officials tried to ban the practice.

However, he was killed in a confrontation with U.S. troops. In an effort to end the Ghost Dance, the government attempted to arrest Sitting Bull. However, he was killed in a confrontation with U.S. troops. More than 100 Indians who fled were killed at Wounded Knee. The Indian Wars were over. 14

Some critics attacked government policies and defended the Indians’ way of life. Most leaders, however, hoped that Native Americans would assimilate into American life.

In 1887, Congress passed the Dawes General Allotment Act to encourage assimilation. Replaced the reservation system with an allotment system Granted each Indian family its own plot of land Specified the land could not be sold for 25 years

Section 2 Assessment What conflict existed between the Indians & white settlers? (Pg. 496-498) What were some wars fought between Indians and white settlers? (Pg. 500-503) Why were Indians forced on to reservations? (Pg. 504) What was the impact of the Dawes Act? (Pg. 504)

Wars/battles, different belief systems, etc. Sand Creek Massacre, Red River War, Battle of Little Big Horn To make room for white settlers (pioneers) It gave Indians a piece of land on a reservation